Talking about adoption, birthparents, abandonment, race, and China with my kids. That's not all we talk about -- but reading this blog, you'll think it's all we do!!!!!

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Elton John is a Daddy

Remember this story, about Elton John wanting to adopt an HIV-positive Ukrainian toddler? He was deemed too old.

Well, he and partner David Furness have a new child via surrogacy, according to this CNN report:

Sir Elton John is a father. The boy was born on Christmas Day. And he shall be Levon. Or, more accurately, Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John, the singer's publicist said late Monday.

"We are overwhelmed with happiness and joy at this very special moment," John and his long-time partner, David Furnish, said in a statement. "Zachary is healthy and doing really well, and we are very proud and happy parents."

* * *

The baby was born in California via a surrogate, according to Fran Curtis, a representative for the couple. Curtis said she would not discuss the details of the surrogacy arrangements.

Frankly, I would like to see the ethical idealists who constantly attack adoption (domestic or IA) as evil put their energies on the very real ethical issues surrounding surrogacy, especially surrogacy that crosses international boundaries. With adoption a declining business world wide, more and more families with the means to do so are going to exploit international surrogacy. And that means businesses springing up all over the place to fulfill the demand. Largely in the absence of any clear laws or regulations at any internationally unifying level.

The boutique business ventures that have sprung up in recent years have clearly demonstrated that there are so many holes in laws and regulations across international boundaries that you could drive a truck through them. These opportunistic businesses are soliciting parents in one country, surrogates in another country (or state), and sometimes even soliciting eggs and sperm from third parties in completely different countries. Whatever recipe works and is most cost effective is the only rule that seems to be in play. It is free-market opportunism in the extreme, and the methods used confangle and muddy both legal and ethical realities in the process.

Frankly, I would like to see the ethical idealists who constantly attack adoption (domestic or IA) as evil put their energies on the very real ethical issues surrounding surrogacy, especially surrogacy that crosses international boundaries